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            In This Section
        Baltimore-Washington Superconducting Magnetic Levitation Project
                Environmental Impact Statement
                Historic Properties
                
                Environmental Impact Statement
    

    
    
    
      The environmental review process for the SCMAGLEV Project is currently paused. Additional information is available on the Baltimore-Washington Superconducting Maglev Project Permitting Dashboard.

Overview

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) to document the assessment of the potential environmental impacts from implementing the proposed Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (SCMAGLEV) system between Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC. The EIS included a draft Section 4(f) Evaluation in accordance with Section 4(f) of the United States Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. §303) and consideration of historic properties in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. § 306108), as amended. FRA published the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the EIS for the Project in the Federal Register on November 25, 2016.

FRA conducted this environmental review process in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 C.F.R. § Parts 1500-1508), FRA’s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 Fed. Reg. 28545 (1999)), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s Protection of Historic Properties regulations (36 C.F.R. Part 800). FRA is the lead Federal agency preparing the draft EIS, draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, and Section 106 documents, with the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) providing technical assistance as the grant applicant. Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail, LLC (BWRR), is the entity that would design, construct, and operate the SCMAGLEV system.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, and Draft Section 106 Programmatic Agreement (PA)

FRA released the DEIS, Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, and Draft Section 106 PA on January 15, 2021, for public and agency review. The DEIS, Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, and Draft PA were available for public comment until May 24, 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance regarding large events and mass gatherings, FRA conducted telephonic public hearings for the SCMAGLEV DEIS on Tuesday, April 6, 2021; Thursday, April 8, 2021; and Saturday, April 10, 2021. The public hearings provided an opportunity for interested parties to provide oral comments on the DEIS, Draft 4(f) Evaluation, and Draft PA. Please visit the SCMAGLEV Project website to view recordings of the meetings and meeting materials.

All comments received during the public and agency comment period will be considered as the next steps are determined.

**The DEIS, Draft 4(f) Evaluation, and Draft PA files can be accessed via the dropdown menus below.**

Next Steps

FRA is pausing the EIS for the Baltimore-Washington SCMAGLEV Project on the Permitting Dashboard to review project elements and determine the next steps. FRA will share next steps when they are determined.

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        **Draft Environmental Impact Statement**
        Front Matter (Cover and Table of Contents)
	Executive Summary
	Chapter 1 Introduction
	Chapter 2 Purpose and Need
	Chapter 3 Alternatives Considered
	Chapter 4 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences and Mitigation4.01 Introduction4.02 Transportation4.03 Land Use and Zoning4.04 Neighborhoods and Community Facilities4.05 Environmental Justice4.06 Economic Resources4.07 Recreational Facilities and Parklands4.08 Cultural Resources4.09 Aesthetics, Visual Quality, and Light Emissions4.10 Water Resources4.11 Wetlands and Waterways4.12 Ecological Resources4.13 Topography and Geology4.14 Soils and Farmlands4.15 Hazardous Materials Sites and Solid Waste4.16 Air Quality4.17 Noise and Vibration4.18 Electromagnetic Fields and Interference4.19 Energy4.20 Utilities4.21 Public Health and Safety4.22 System Safety and Security4.23 Indirect and Cumulative Effects4.24 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources

Chapter 5 Public Involvement and Agency Coordination
  


      **Appendices, Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, and Draft Programmatic Agreement (PA)**
        Appendix A Glossary, Acronyms, References, Distribution List, and List of Preparers
	Appendix B Mapping AtlasAppendix B.1 Build AlternativesAppendix B.2 Socioeconomic and Community ResourcesAppendix B.3 Natural Resources Map AtlasAppendix B.4 Cultural Resources Map Atlas

Appendix C Alternatives Development Summary
	Appendix DAppendix D.1 Permits and AuthorizationsAppendix D.2 Transportation Technical ReportAppendix D.3 Socioeconomic Environment Technical Report
          Appendix D.3 Socioeconomic Environment Technical Report Attachments A-FAppendix D.4 Economics Impact Analysis Technical ReportAppendix D.5 Cultural Resources
          **Appendix D.5 Cultural Resources Attachment (Draft Programmatic Agreement (PA))**Appendix D.6 Aesthetics, Visual Quality and Light EmissionsAppendix D.7 Natural Environment Technical Report
          Appendix D.7 Natural Environment Technical Report Attachments A & B
          Appendix D.7 Natural Environment Technical Report Attachments C & D 
          Appendix D.7 Natural Environment Technical Report Attachment E
          Appendix D.7 Natural Environment Technical Report Attachment FAppendix D.8 Hazardous Materials Sites and Solid WasteAppendix D.9 Air Quality Technical Report
          Appendix D.9 Air Quality Attachments A-CAppendix D.10 Noise and VibrationAppendix D.11 Electromagnetic Fields and Interference

Appendix E Public Involvement Agency Coordination
	**Appendix F Draft 4(f) Evaluation**Appendix F Draft 4(f) Evaluation Mapping
          Appendix F Draft 4(f) Evaluation Coordination and Correspondence

Appendix G Preliminary Engineering Technical AppendicesAppendix G Part A (G.01 Facility Parcel Impact Submittal (Cover/TOC, Report, and Attachment 1))Appendix G Part B (G.01 Facility Parcel Impact Submittal (Attachment 2))Appendix G Part C (G.01 Facility Parcel Impact Submittal (Attachments 3-10))Appendix G Part D (G.02 DEIS Drawings (Location Map, Index, and Legend; Structural Typical Sections and Details; Alignment J1))Appendix G Part E (G.02 DEIS Drawings (J Alignment, Camden Yards, and Cherry Hill Site Civil Plans))Appendix G Part F (G.02 DEIS Drawings (TMF and MOW Connections))Appendix G Part G (G.02 DEIS Drawings (Facilities/Systems J Alignment))Appendix G Part H (G.02 DEIS Drawings (Facilities/Systems J1 Alignment))Appendix G Part I (G.02 DEIS Drawings (Traffic Control Plans))Appendix G Part J (G.02 DEIS Drawings (Traffic Control Plans))Appendix G Part K

(G.3 Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Memorandum, G.4 Operations Plan Memorandum, G.5 Train Speed Profiles Memorandum, G.6 Safety and Security Technical Memorandum, G.7 Construction Planning Memorandum, G.8 Traffic Control Plans Memorandum, G.9 Capital and Construction Costs Memorandum)

Appendix G Part L

(G.10 Electrical Coordination Technical Memorandum, G.11 BWRRs Proposal for Preferred Alternative Selection, G.12 TMF Alternatives Assessment Comparison Memorandum, G.13 Geotechnical Report, G.14 Public Transportation Impacts Memorandum, G.15 Operations and Maintenance Memorandum)

    
          Last updated: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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